Osteosarcoma: Bone Cancer in Dogs

What is an osteosarcoma?

This is a tumour that grows within the bone itself. This usually occurs in the legs when it comes to dogs, but can also occur in the spine or jaw. Osteosarcomas are most common in larger dog breeds, generally in the femur and tibia (specifically near the knee), in the radius or ulna (specifically near the carpal tunnel joint, or the wrist), or in the humerus (specifically near the shoulder).

One of the most common signs that your pet is suffering from osteosarcoma is lameness in the affected leg. Other symptoms that may appear in the months leading up to a diagnosis include swelling in the affected area as the tumour grows. This cancer is very painful; your dog will eventually stop using the affected limb all together.

Whilst they’re easily diagnosed with an x-ray, keep in mind that it can take a while for the tumours to grow big enough to actually be detected on an x-ray (typically a few months after the first signs of lameness appear). To diagnose osteosarcoma earlier, a CT scan be used – but these do come with a far higher cost.

How is it treated?

Unfortunately, bone cancers in dogs have almost always spread by the time they’re diagnosed. Most of the time, euthanasia is recommended – not because of issues due to the cancer spreading but because the pain the animal is experiencing is so severe. In order to control the pain without euthanasia, we generally recommend amputation – your pet will be pain-free within a couple of days of the surgery. Regardless of which limb has been affected, most dogs will be able to cope extremely well after the amputation – plus, you’ll get more time with your beloved pet. Artificial limbs are a more recent option, though they do come with a high cost. Another option for extending the time you have with your pet is chemotherapy.